Jerry Bergonzi is regarded as one of the most important saxophonists in the world. Equally, he continues to make significant contributions in the world of jazz education. He is the author of Inside Improvisations Series (Jazzwise Publications), a manual developed in seven volumeshis eighth book is due to come out soonthat has become essential for jazz students around the world.

The only element that speaks to time is his white hair, because his enthusiasm hasn't changed since recently deceased pianist Dave Brubeck

hired him to tour with his quartet. Thirty years of success have passed since then: Bergonzi has played with the some of the most important jazz musicians on the international scene, has recorded nearly two hundred albums, and created his own teaching method.

Even Bergonzi considers himself a blue-blooded jazz saxophonist ; he loves to listen to classical music and can surprise by playing Bach's Inventions during a sound check. This jazz educator is constantly creating his own non-stop musical life. When he is not on the road, he teaches at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and when he is touring, he plays at the most important festivals he provides special master classes. He devotes his hotel nights to writing tunes because, he says, it is fun for him. He recently wrapped up a European tour with his inseparable bassist Dave Santoro

, in a new quartet that also features young pianist Carl Whinter. In Spain, the Jerry Bergonzi Quartet took part in Valencia's Jimmy Glass International Jazz Festival.

All About Jazz: You are known as one of the greatest jazz educators of the moment...

Jerry Bergonzi [Coughs] Oh, ok! [Laughs]

AAJ: And that's maybe because you are considered as a pedagogical innovator, what do you think?

JB: Well, you know, I always tell people that I am an eternal student; I'm always thinking in new things to practice, new things to play, and in new sounds that I hear. So that's maybe why people like to study with me, because we study together. I think music is the master and we all are the students.

AAJ: You are an eternal student, but do you feel any difference in learning new things now as opposed to when you were at the beginning of your career?

JB: I don't feel any different right now than when I was learning this music. The reason why people love this music is because it puts you in the present tense. You have all the experiences being here, spirituality, emotionally, mentally, physically. And all of them settle your body in the present tense; because of that. I now have the same feeling that when I did when I was learning. It doesn't matter how good you are: to be in the present, even if you are a beginner; it's the present tense.

AAJ: So forever young.

JB: [Laughs] Or forever old, whatever.

AAJ: You have created your own method in your Inside Improvisation series, and it looks like you have prepared the material you would like to have had when you started studying jazz.

JB: Yes, I would really have liked people to have shown me all these things that I teach, but I don't consider anything mine. I consider knowledge just part of the universe and nobody owns it. So everybody put it together and we all have a special function.

AAJ: You have developed a theory about improvisation, but you are all passion on a stage. When you are improvising it looks like you don't think about numbers and you just let yourself go with the music.

JB: [Smiles] Yeah, while I'm playing I'm not thinking. I am not in the conscious mind; I am in the creating mind, which is intuition. It's really quick, like lighting. But when I am in my practice room, then I think, "let's try this," then, "Let's try that," then "Let's try this." But when I'm on a bandstand or playing, I'm not like that at all; I try to be all heart.

AAJ: So your balance is not about the moment, it's about the conjugation between the practice time before, which is mental, and the "heart time" during your improvisations on a stage.

JB: Sure, practicing at home keeps my facility together; my interest together in learning tunes, rhythm, concepts. You know, I always think people are four elements: fire is spirit, water is emotion, air is intellect, and earth is grounded groove time. Everybody has all four but in different percentages, but when I hear people playing I can hear all those elements.

AAJ: Can creativity be taught?

JB: Yes, I think everything can be taught, creativity can be taught. Everybody is creative. People don't have the license to tell someone if he is creative or not. A person can be creative in music, and another in fixing a car, another cooking food, dealing with children... Everybody is creative.

AAJ: What has been your greatest jazz school?

JB: My best school has been listening. Listening to my favorite players. Listening, listening, listening. Transcribing. If I listen, I transcribe. So you learn things, you learn from the masters. You play your favorite players and that's school. School is Charlie Parker